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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1* J. HOTGHKISS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 394,272. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

(No Mode- 1.) 8 3 Sheets-Sheet '2.

J. HOTOHKISS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 394,272. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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3 SheetsSheet 3-.

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J. HOTUHKISS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 394,272. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOSEPH HOTCIIKISS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNEC'IIOIIT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOTHE (IOI LTER & MCKENZIE MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,272, dated December11, 1888.

Application filed October 4, 1888.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH IIOTCHKISS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-El.- capes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements in.fire-escapes, but has especial reference to that class of such devicesin which a portable carriage or has ket is adapted for instant use inascending to or descending from the stories of a building, the latterbein provided with suitable means whereby said carriage or basket maybesecured, guided, and operated.

The object of my invention is to afford a simple, strong, and effectivefire-escape and to render the latter adapted for instant use.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements, such as will be hereinafterfully set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay fully understand the same, I will proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring by letter to the accompanyin gdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1is a front elevation showing my improvement adapted for use; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a plan view of the same, the pipeand one of the hangers being sectioned horizontally; and Fig. 4 a detailbroken perspective illustrating particularly the adjustable shackle.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures.

A represents the outer wall of a building, to which is secured an ironpipe, B, by means of hangers (l, fastened within or to the wall, as maybe desired. These hangers embrace the pipe and are flush with thesurface thereof, so as to afford no obstruction to a free travel of theshackles, as will be presently set forth. The top hanger may or may notbe flush with Serial No. 287,186, (No model.)

the pipe, and I have shown it as con stituting a shoulder around saidpipe merely to afford a convenient stop to prevent the bracketfrom beingdrawn up too far.

Dis the bracket, the lower or brace arm whereof is provided at the endwith an open shackle, E, conformed to the curvature of the pipe, whilethe upper or main arm has at its extremity a closed shackle made in twosections, F G, the former integral with said arm, while the latter ispivoted thereto, to operate after the manner of alatch, as shown at-Fig.I.

In applying the closed shackle to the pipe the section 1 is hookedaround the latter, the.

section G closed, and the two sections secured in this position by asliding collar, II. The lower shackle embraces the pipe only as a guidefor the brace-arm to permit the latter to readily perform its functionas a prop or support to the main arm,while the latter is adapted to besecured as against withdrawal from the pipe by means of the closedshackle. lVhen in proper position with respect to the pipe, the bracketmay readily be swun around to cover as much area as possible.

I is a hood secured to the wall of the building immediately over the topof the pipe, and depending from this hood is any suitable pulley-block,.I, within which is journaled a pulley, K. At the base of the buildingis a box, Ii, within which is a pulley, \I, journaled in suitablebearings, N, an opening, 0, being formed in said pipe opposite to thispulley. The foot P of the pipe is planted in the ground, or in acement-bed, as may be desired. A rope, Q, of wire or othernon-combustible material, is run through the pipe over and under thepulleys K M, respectively, the rope being brought down outside the pipeand weighted, as with a ball, R, in order to readily bring said rope bygravity in a position easy of access at the bottom of the pipe.

To the bracket D is secured any ordinary basket or receptacle, S. Theupper end of the rope is provided with a hook, T, which is insertedthrough an eye, U, in the collar 11 when the bracket is applied for use.The bracket being in proper operative position, as shown at Figs. 1 and2, the raising and lowering of the same is effected by hauling andslackening the lower end of the rope. hen

not in use, the lower end ofthe rope may be pulled down and securedaround any suitable cleat (not shown) Within the box L and lockedtherein as an insurance against tampering. A rope, V, may be fastened tothe outer end of the bracket for the purpose of swinging" the latterinto position for service. The bracket and its attached basket areintended as a part of the firemens regular outfit and apparatus, so thatthe general appearance of the building is not defaced or renderedunsightly by any local apparatus, the pipe presenting an effect notunlike that of a small drain-pipe. The hood at the top of the pipeaffords a protection as against the clogging of the pipe by dirt orother obstacles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The bracket having at the end of its main arm an adjustable closedshackle and at the end of the brace-arm an open shackle, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The hook formed integral with the main arm of the bracket, incombination with the latch pivoted to said arm, and the collar adaptedto embrace said arm and latch,whereby a closed shackle is formed,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the pipe open at the top and bottom, the pulleysjournaled opposite to said openings, the rope through said pipe run overthe top pulley and under the bottom pulley, the bracket having a hookformed on the end of its main arm conformed to the general shape of thepipe in cross-section, a latch pivoted to said arm, a collar adapted toencircle said arm and latch, and an open shackle formed on the end ofthe brace-arm of the bracket, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH HOTOHKISS.

\Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsON, F. l/V. SMITH, Jr.

